it's every year (almost) the same: Strasbourg's mayor, along with some CEOs and random VIPs, set up an official ceremony to celebrate the "coup d'envoi des illuminations de Strasbourg". i.e. they turn all the Xmas lights on at the same moment, they talk a lot about how great Xmas is and how glad they are to welcome the invited country's consul (this year it's Russia), and the event's godmother (for 2009, it's Jean Manson, an American singer, accompanied by the Broadway Gospel Choir). As they do every year, they also made a kids' choir come, Les Colibris.
2009's theme color will be all red (and a bit o' gold of course), just when they welcome Russia; now that's a surprise :p
Since I enjoy Christmas time (although I'm an atheist, I find the decorations pretty and I'm a gift[s] giver so... yah), I decided to go see the ceremony for myself, and took a few photos as well as some videos; here they are.
Note: There's a detailed program of everything Xmassy that will go on in december: Strasbourg - Capitale de Noël
"Portail de Lumière" - Place du vieux marché aux poissons, Strasbourg
The stage where singers performed and the city's officials talked
Green laser lights, displaying credits for all those who participated in Strasbourg's lighting (Vitrines de Strasbourg, Energie de Strasbourg etc), and houses already reddened according to this year's theme
Jean (pronounced "djeen") Manson with the Broadway Gospel
Energie de Strasbourg's CEO (second from the right)Les Colibris, singing "Strasbourg - Capitale de Noël" (specially composed for the event)
Same guy talking, with Les Vitrines de Strasbourg's president on the far rightyay! Santa Claus was also there, giving away Männele
how does the illumination work?
aaaand here we go! ^^
a close-up on the rest of the street in the back - you can see it's... RED! tadaaaam :p
